The Community Council for the Arts will be the location Thursday and Friday to listen to local and regional music from the past and present, as well as learn about the musical culture in Eastern North Carolina.

The Arts Council is presenting the African-American Music Trail reception, forum and concert, shedding light on the melodic culture in Kinston and surrounding areas.

On Thursday, a reception and forum is scheduled with a performance by the middle and high school TAPS Jazz Group of the Arts Council, lasting from 7-9 p.m.

The following day, the concert — which starts at 7:30 p.m. — will feature local and regional musicians from the African-American Music Trail, including Wilbert Croom, Lessette Kornegay, Dick Knight and Bill Myers.

Sandy Landis, executive director of the Community Council for the Arts, said the program will be both entertaining and informative.

“This is really going to be a great program,” she said. “It was designed by Bill Myers, who was a founder of The Monitors over 50 years ago. We want to inform the people about the rich musical heritage in Eastern North Carolina. We’ll have a reception and forum on Thursday discussing the music roots in Kinston, what it mean to the economy and what it can mean presently in the community.”

She continued, “On Friday, the Monitors will be performing, and others will be highlighted as well. It’s going to be a great show.”

Kornegay, a Kinston native, said she was very excited about the opportunity to perform at the event.

“It is so good to know about the history of the African-American Trail,” Kornegay said. “Last month, I had a show in Wilson for their African-American Trail, and it was just awesome to see the masters of the musical craft. I felt like a kid at a candy store. The talent in the surrounding areas is great, and there was a great turnout.

“People can get familiar with artists in our hometown. We need to stop and take a second look at the talent in our own backyard. This is a great event to have and I hope Kinston comes out to look back at the history and appreciate what the city has now.”

Junious Smith III can be reached at 252-559-1077 and Junious.Smith@Kinston.com. Follow him on Twitter at @JuniousSmithIII.

Breakout box:

Mark your calendars

Here are the times and admission for the upcoming events at the Arts Center for the African-American Music Trail

Thursday: Reception and forum, 7 p.m., free

Friday: Concert, 7:30 p.m., $8 in advance, $10 at the door, students under 18 free

To purchase tickets for the event or additional information, call the Arts Council at 252-527-2517 or go to the Community Council for the Arts on 400 N. Queen Street.